MDW Soldier reenlists in NYC

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Courtesy Story

Date: 10.18.2013
Posted: 11.01.2013 11:09
News ID: 116138
MDW soldier reenlists in NYC

By Jim Dresbach
Pentagram Staff Writer

NEW YORK - Army Staff Sgt. Danilo Fernandez became a military policeman on Sept. 11, 2001, and left New York City two days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

He returned to one of the city’s most iconic sites last month for a personal milestone ceremony.

While surrounded by family, Fernandez indefinitely reenlisted in the Army at the World Trade Center Memorial Oct. 18.

Fernandez, born and reared in New York City, is currently a military policeman with the 241st MP Detachment at Fort George G. Meade, Md.

“The main reason I chose the World Trade Center Memorial is because [9/11] played a significant part in my life,” the staff sergeant said. “I was going through rites of passage that day. On 9/11, we were in a room hearing rumors [about the attacks], but I didn’t find out about it until after I became a military policeman later that day.”

A large group of family members joined Fernandez at the bottom portion of Manhattan for the ceremony. His father was a soldier and he grew up as a self-described “Army brat.”

“I have a pretty extensive family,” he said during a telephone interview. “I have a lot of aunts and uncles in New York City.”